1 Year Later
How It Started
When the war began on February 24 a year ago, we were in disbelief. Being glued to our phones and reading the news, we felt helpless. Even a few days in, we could see how devastating the war was to millions of Ukrainians. Many fled, many lost their homes, many lost their loved ones. Just like everyone else around the world, we wanted to do something, to help, but we simply did not know how.
That is when, a week after the conflict began, we decided to launch Grace Tea* to help war victims in Ukraine. You see, we realized that even though we are not in Ukraine ourselves and cannot help people directly, we have other resources, namely:
Residing in the US, we are able to raise money
Personally knowing trustworthy people & organizations in Ukraine, we can direct the funds into trusted hands
Pulling together all of our resources and connections, we were able to launch the Grace Tea website and begin collecting donations within days. In fact, we were able to launch our campaign less than 2 weeks after the war began. I am certain that we were one of the first grassroots non-profit organizations to do so.
In parallel, we began contacting our friends and relatives in Ukraine, vetting various individuals and organizations, in order to find partners who we can rely on to turn donations into direct help for the victims (in the form of food & medicine). We wanted to do everything above board, ensuring that every penny is well spent and goes directly to the victims.
From the very beginning, volunteers covered all expenses out of our own pockets, including website fees, lawyer fees, etc. This ensured that we don’t spend donated funds on operating expenses and every dollar donated goes to the victims, period. We did not want to become an organization that uses part of the donations for overhead; we wanted to provide a platform for generous donors in the US to donate directly to those in need.
Now, this entire operation was intended to be short-lived. We assumed like many did, that the conflict will go on for only a few weeks, or maybe months. So, although all of our volunteers have full-time jobs, we worked tirelessly day and night, believing that the end is around the corner. Of course, that is not what happened. Instead, weeks turned into months and we slowly began to realize that this is a long-term conflict and we should plan to serve for many months to come.
*Grace Tea was actually registered and received its 501c3 status 10 years ago; it was intended to be used for a different non-profit purpose. However, it was never utilized, but we (the founders) kept the paperwork updated, in case an opportunity came up to use the organization for good. This is why we were able to launch the non-profit so quickly and have the 501c3 status in hand. We worked with our attorneys to ensure that our paperwork is up-to-date and our organization's purpose is updated with the state and federal governments.
Money Raised
When we just launched Grace Tea, we did not know what to expect. The entire effort was 100% grassroots; none of our volunteers were professional fundraisers. We simply wanted to help. We assumed that through our networks and friends, we could raise around $50,000.
Instead, over the past 12 months, we raised over $370,000! Truly incredible; we are so grateful to all of the generous donors who made this possible.
Throughout last year, we calculated the average cost of a care package that feeds a family of 5 for a week. The number that we came to was $25. That is, $25 feeds a family of 5 for a whole week. This means that having raised $370,000, we will be able to help nearly 15,000 families (over 70,000 people)! This is nothing short of amazing!
Below is a breakdown of where the funds came from:
The Work
Throughout 2022, we continued working with our volunteers, directing the funds to the areas where they were needed the most. What does “work with volunteers” look like exactly? The process is as follows:
Partners send a request for funds, which explains how the funds will be used
Grace Tea directors review the request and approve it (here is an example of the request and approval)
Funds are sent to the partner
Partners communicate weekly (often daily) on the progress, sending us photos, videos, and receipts of how the funds are being used.
As the conflict evolved, our strategy did as well. For example, in the beginning of the war, there was a lot of need in the west of Ukraine, where refugees flooded safer cities and tried to flee to Poland. So, we directed funds to partners in western Ukraine, who helped local refugees. We also helped people in central Ukraine (around the capital, Kyiv). However, as the war shifted primarily to the east and south, we began to shift the dollars there as well.
From the very beginning, our approach was to work with partners who can reach areas where bigger non-profit organizations simply will not go because those areas are too dangerous. And, as the country became safer in the west and central parts, we worked more closely with our partners in the east and south. For example, we worked (and continue to work) with a partner in the city of Skadovsk, which is still occupied by Russian forces.
It is difficult to over-exaggerate the amount of work our partners have done over the past year. It is nothing short of INCREDIBLE. They have risked their lives, spent countless hours helping people, and shed many tears with them. These are some of the most inspirational people we have ever met. Below are just a few photos from the thousands that we have received.
What Now
We continue working with a handful* of partners, two main ones being registered Ukrainian non-profits. One is a church and the other is a humanitarian non-profit. These two organizations continue to do incredible work. Their primary strategy is to purchase goods in the safer areas of Ukraine and then drive to the war-torn, near-front-line areas, to deliver the needed supplies to the devastated population. These trips are very risky and we are grateful our partners continue to risk their lives to help their people.
*Although we began our work by partnering with a dozen (or so) volunteers/organizations, we have narrowed our partnerships to just a few, based on:
The areas of Ukraine that these partners serve (we now almost exclusively operate in the east and south, where larger organizations cannot go due to the risks)
The quality of the work they do
The quality of communication and documentation, including photo and video reports
The donations, unfortunately, have slowed down significantly. For example, in the month of February (which is almost over), we have collected just a bit over $5,000. Although we are grateful for all donations, it is difficult for us to continue supporting our partners well.
What’s Next
The war continues. The needs are many. What we need most:
Donations. Without ongoing donations, our work would not be possible. We encourage you to sign up for a monthly recurring donation, which is ideal for our financial planning.
Volunteers. We are very short-staffed. If you believe you are able to help, especially in fundraising, we would love your help.
Although the reality is bleak, we continue to be grateful that we are able to do something. We are grateful for all of the generous donors and those of you who care about Ukraine. We are grateful for our volunteers in the US, who have helped in numerous ways, from creating graphics to filing for grants to helping us with legal questions. But we are especially grateful to our partners, who have done the real work, on the ground, risking their lives to help people in need. And last, but certainly not least, we are grateful to our God - Jesus*, for providing us the opportunity to serve people and feel useful. And, we are grateful to you, for reading this update and being engaged.
*Grace Tea is not a religious organization, but most of its volunteers are Christians.